Possibly the ultimate Sequoia backcountry, all-mountain experience, this ride is a challenge all the way to the end. While offering up some 4,000’ of nearly continuous descent, it’s the last to be free of snow and was still under some 2-3’ of snow at the beginning of the month. It’s been a long two years since I first did this ride, but I eagerly longed to do it again.

The morning gets started a bit earlier so everyone can have a hardy meal of breakfast burritos.



The major obstacle in getting to the start of the descent is a 5 mile climb that takes 2 1/2 hours. A sign of problems to come, 406 can’t even leave the campsite without a brake issue that would require cannibalizing a Kreechan’s spare bike.



Riding directly from the campsite, we find ourselves on the other section of Summit trail. This meadow usually has flowers in it, but we’re through it little later this year.



Trees provide a good canopy of shade for most of the ride



Flowers in bloom when not on the overgrown section of trail



About halfway up, start a couple of switchbacks



The Needles comes into view



At a panoramic overlook of Needles to the east, it’s time to take the first snack break



And session a bit of rock



Back to the relentless grind up







Less than a mile from the top, there’s a hike-a-bike section that climbs nearly straight up 200’. Then it’s just a bit more climbing to the top.



Some 5.1 mi and 2,000’ gain later tops you out at a thin 9,000’ elevation. After lunch and donning protective armor, the DH fun begins.





Gman out of control



Flowing descent



Small spring fed meadow at 8,300’



Looking north into Golden Trout Wilderness



Somewhere in this upper section, the rear derailleur hanger on bankerboy’s carbon Blur decides to break. Having already broke the first one the week prior, he converted to the chainless challenge. Meanwhile Evdog and I work on the pronged fork drop.





Soon after the descent steepens up a bit



Quite a bit a bit of pucker factor coming down this chunk section. Although Evdog’s rear brake was sporadic throughout the ride, at least it was working during this section.



More views on the descent



This stone feature provides some options and was quickly enhanced into a rock roll.





I jumped it twice but couldn’t stick the landing (note to crank up the rebound next time)



Then you enter the Sequoia grove





Badkittyjing striking a pose



More flow



Sequoia wall ride and root ball drop





Fun log drop





Evdog’s small bike at the base of a Sequoia tree



One last bridge tops off the fun for this ride





Unwinding back at camp with brats & beer around the fire



Another great day of riding among the giants. Although only 12.1 miles in length, we spent another 7 hours on the trail climbing 2,240’ and descending 4,320’ for a pure backcountry experience.

Interesting view of the log ride to root ball drop. Good write up, thanks

While this ride was fantastic in the views and obstacles, it was a mechanical nightmare of a trip for a lot of folks besides me. Let's see if I remember this right...

406 - Brakes failed before even leaving camp. Sacrificed kreechan's bike for that.

G-man - Adjustable seat post fails, leaving him with an expensive suspension one

Boone29r - Pretzeled his large chain ring on a log the day before, not that he needed it on this ride. By the bottom of the hill his rotor was so hot, it warped to match the shape of his chain ring.

Jhill - had yet another flat. It was a downhiller, bomb proof tube too.

Evdog - Both front and back brakes failed on the descent. Fortunately it was only a 1/2 mile from the bottom.

Bankerboy - snapped a brand new derailleur hangar. Fortunately it was all down hill.

I think the only ones who walked away from this unscathed (bike-wise) was Badkittyjing, Kreechen, and GP Pilot.

All the same, it was a great ride, except the 1/2 mile of thorn bushes.

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The world does not revolve around you but your actions impact us all!

I can't speak about the rest but I know you didn't get this right. I was not on the ride.

Great writeup Sean. You guys may have been the first ones to ride the trail this year. Did you see any evidence of an earlier ride?

I had no bike mechanicals... but my poor, tiny little rotors & brake pads were sure burning after the descent! It didn't smell too nicely.

I also had a personal mechanical and had to go off to the side of the trail with some toilet paper. That didn't smell too nicely either.

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~I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
~Nothing from nothing is nothing.
~I'm allowed to be a pussy because I have one!

I think he meant JHill ?

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~I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
~Nothing from nothing is nothing.
~I'm allowed to be a pussy because I have one!

CRAP!! Wrong J. Sorry to Jeremy. Fixed it.

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The world does not revolve around you but your actions impact us all!

nice tr. and nice work on the jumps.
I really enjoyed the ride up ( and down ) except for the hike-a-bike up through brush.
Thanks for the help with the brake boone29r and kreechan.

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strava:instagram:activejunky

I can't say for certain that another crew was through, but didn't see any work this year. We cleared out the landing zones for the jumps & drops but not much other than some small sticks & such. I shored up the left side of the pronged fork drop since the left side is starting to break. Surprisingly the trail was mostly clear except for a number of dead falls that killed the flow of the 2' drops between 5,500'-7,000'. Missed finding the big log ride.

After a wrong turn and 406's brake issues, we finally got rolling. The ride up was pretty nice except for a short section that was very overgrown


It wasn't long til we were at a nice lookout


For baja


I was momentarily convinced that would be the top. It was not


There would still be much climbing left to go


Another break, this time with a cool log ride to play on. Gman made it look easy the 1st time


I could make the corner no problem, but kept losing the front wheel a bike length after the turn


Time to rest in the shade


Jhill continues on


GP_pilot rolls through open ground


The worst of the climbing comes at the end, including a couple HABs


Sometimes I don't know why we allow certain people to come on these trips


Lunch over, we roll. Here, Boone29er rolls


Then Bankerboy


GP_pilot launches the next feature


Gman has an "O-shit" moment. He conquers on try #2. Kreechan did well on this too


One of a couple small snow patches that remain


GP_pilot crusing down the slope


BKJ enjoying the forest


Gman picks an interesting spot to lie down


At least this gecko didn't try to sell us car insurance


Boone catches some air off a jump


GP_pilot into the loose chunder


406 in the gnar


BKJ cruising


Jhill flying


Catching air off a lip


Jhill makes the feature more challenging by sitting on his back tire


406 makes the feature more challenging by removing one of the cheater rocks....and sitting on his back tire


GP_pilot would have you believe his rebound was not cranked up enough. I think he just f*cked up


Takeoff and landing were perfect this time, just need to work on the runout


There was more HAB


And then we got to the big trees


Really big trees


We check out one of the trail's signature features


Those with skill and balls would cruise in and use the transition to get up onto the wall ride that is the side of the log, check speed, and then launch off the end onto the short tranny below. The complete lack of tire marks on the log should tell you something.


406 with wings spread


Another angle so QS can plan his attack


Moving on down, GP_pilot hits a nice gap jump


The tranny lands you right in front of this beauty


Big trees were everywhere


Where you have big trees you're bound to have big cones


After a satisfying meal of brats we enjoy some good beer by the fire


A bright moon gives me the urge to do some night riding soon...

Really well done Evan. Great TR, and your love of climbing is so admirable

photo of the year:

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strava:instagram:activejunky

I have neither skills nor balls, but I'm definately planning my attack

Thanks for the pics Evan. Again, great shots!

great tr gp & evan!

nice parting ride for the heckler too.

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Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy. ~Milan Kundera

Glad he had it so someone else could get weighed down with a big bike too